Horse-collar.



P'ATENTED AUG. 30, 1904.

J. N. SGHMITZ.

HORSE COLLAR.

APPLICATION FILED 1736.17, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

QATTOP Q S.

UNITED STATES Patented August 30, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE. I

HORSE-COLLAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 769,026, dated August30, 1904. Application filed December 17, 1902. Serial No. 135,613. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I,JoHN NICHOLAS SoHMITz, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Olinton, in the county of Clinton and State of Iowa,have invented a new and useful Horse-Collar, of which the following is aspecification.

' This invention relates to horse-collars.

The object of the invention is to provide a horse-collar which may beadjusted to fit the neck of the animal to cause the same to becomfortable and easy in use, to obviate galling of the neck, to preventsplitting of the hames under strain, to provide efficient means foradjusting both the top and the bottom of the collar, either one to theexclusion of the other, and, finally, to improve the generalconstruction of devices of this character.

With these and other objects in view, as will appear as the nature ofthe invention is better understood, the same consists in the novelconstruction and combination of parts of a horse-collar, as will behereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, andin which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts,there is illustrated one form of embodiment of invention capable ofcarrying the same into practical operation, it being understood that theelements therein exhibited may be varied or changed as to shape,proportion, and exact manner of assemblage without departing from thespirit thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 isa view in front elevation of ahorse-collarembodyingthe features of the present invention. Fig. 2 aview invertical transverse section. Fig. 3 is adetail View of the lowerportion of the collar. Fig. 4 is a perspective detail view of the meansfor effecting adjustment of the lower ends of the collar. Fig. 5 isatransverse sectional view through one of the hames, showing the meansby which the draft tug-bolt is 1 held associated therewith and also aband or strap for reinforcing the hames at the point of attachment ofthe draft-plate.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the hames, which may beconstructed of any suitable material, preferably of wood, and in orderto prevent the same from splitting and to reinforce them rivets orscrews 2 are employed, which may be disposed at such points on the hamesas will be best adapted for effecting the purpose designed. The frontsof the hames are padded at 3 in the usual or any preferred manner topresent a soft and thoroughly-comfortable structure. The novelty of thepresent invention resides principally in the provision of means foradjusting the upper ends of the hames with relation to each other, inthe provision of a cap or yoke supported by and independently movablewith relation to the hames, so as torest upon the top of the horses neckand to be adjustable to the different positions according to themovement of the hame-sections, and the provision of means for adjustingthe lower ends of the hames, together with a shield for bridging thelower opposed ends of the hames, thereby to prevent tend "ency ofchoking the animal. a I The means for effecting the adjustment of theupper ends of the hames comprises a bar 4, provided near each terminalwith a plurahtyof transverse grooves or depressions pair of clips 6,which project through reinforcing-plates 7 suitably secured to thehames, the ends of the clips being threaded for the reception of nuts 8,by which the clips may be securely clamped within one of the grooves 5.The grooves are to be of such depth that when the clips are seatedtherein, while the collar-sections will be permitted to have a rangeofmovement on the bar, they will be positively prevented fromdisconnection By permitting this rocking moautomatically to the animalsshoulders, and

thus present a more comfortable device in wear.

The means for supporting the collar upon the neck of the animal and alsofor permit ting the hame-sections to have the motion above referred tocomprises a cap or yoke 9, preferably made of leather and in two pliesassembled by suitable means, as by rivets, the outer ply 10 havingsecured to it on each side a metallic reinforcing-plate 11, said plates.75 5, adapted to be engaged by the bends of a Ioo being connected withthe ply by rivets 12. Passing through the outer ply and through thereinforcing-plates are bolts 13, which through the medium of nuts 14L,screwed thereon,'serve to clamp the reinforcing plates against the undersides of the hames. The manner of connecting the adjusting-rod 4 and thecap 9 with the hames is such that the hames may be separatedlongitudinally, thus to permit of their being placed over the animalsneck and obviating the objection of having the hames open laterally, asis com.- mon.

Means for adjustably connecting the lower ends of the hames comprises aplate 15, carrying a swiveled link 16, and an L-bolt 17, having a rigidlink 17. The plate is provided with a plurality of orifices 18 to beengaged by the outturned end 19 of the bolt, a nut 20, screwed on thesaid end, serving to hold the hames at the desired adjustment. It willbe seen that by shifting the bolt from one to the other of the openings18 the hames members may be adjusted laterallyto cause them to fitanimals of different sizes.

The link of the bolt 17 is held in operative position with relation tothe hames by a plate 21, bolted to the hames, and thelink 16 of theplate is designed to engage a hook 22 on a plate 23, bolted to the otherhame, a latch 2 1, pivoted to the last-named plate, being adapted whenturned in under the hook 22 to prevent disconnection of the linktherefrom. When the collar is to be removed, the latch 24 is swungupward, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, whereupon the link will befree to move out of engagement with the hook 22. In order to avoid anychoking of the animal or discomfort in use,.there is a shield 25provided, which, as shown in Fig. 2, is folded around the plate and thebolt and is held in position by the nut 20, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.This shield presents a smooth rounded surface to bear against theanimals throat and will add greatly to its comfort when drawing heavyloads.

As a means for reinforcing the hames and also to prevent disconnectionof the draft-tug bolts 26 therefrom a reinforcing-band 27 is employed,preferably of sheet metal, which is secured to the front end of thehames before being padded, thence bent around the hames, and is held inplace by having its end provided with an opening to pass over the outerend of the bolt 26. It will be seen that when the nut 28 of the bolt 26is loosened should it be desired to remove the draft-tugs 29 the said'bolt will be prevented from slipping inward, and thus dropping into thestuffing of the hames and causing trouble and expense to replace it.

hile all of the improvements of this invention are simple in character,they are of great utility and will be found thoroughly effective inaccomplishing the results sought and by reason of the simplicity of theparts may be readily applied to an ordinary collar without necessitatingany marked change in the structural arrangement.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is 1. The combinationwith two hamemembers each having spaced apertures extending transverselytherethrough, of a transversely-disposed bar having a series oftransverse terminal notches, and adjusting means on the respective hamescomprising U-shaped clips having the legs thereof extended through thespaced apertures in said hame members and provided with screw-threadedterminals, the bases of said clips being seated in the notches of saidbar, and nuts engaging said screwthreaded clip ends to securely hold theclips in said notches and unite the parts.

2. The combination with two hame members, of a transversely-disposed barhaving transverse terminal notches, U-shaped clips loosely engaging saidnotches and extending through said hame members to provide for the freeand independent movement of the hame members, and means connecting saidclips with said hame members.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afiixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN NICHOLAS SCI-IMIT'J.

\Vitnesses: I

ELLA Gmiuns, D. OC. MCCARTHY.

